With that, I too moved towards my class. As I step a foot in, I heard some whispering going on as their eyes landed on me. It was something new for me, I had never experienced being the center of attention. They were rubbernecking at me, ignoring it up, I got to my place. Our class had an item of well-branded furniture for our sitting arrangement. The benches were divided into rows, and each bench had the capacity of two students. It that manner, the class didn't appear congested, though it accounted for seventy students.

I was adopted to sit alone, but as soon as I took a seat. A girl came and sat beside me. I was baffled, seeing it. She passed me a smile, I fake one. The question, why she accompanied me? Enveloped my mind. She had black shiny, wispy hair that was left open. She was fairer than me, having a pointed chin and a larger forehead. Her face resembling heart shape, her dark brown eyes glinted on me.

“Hey, you’re the same girl whom Kunal hugged in the canteen?” She was trying to verify it, I widened my eyes. I didn’t like the way, she put it fore. “That means you fraternize with them? You know Rithvik too?” She paused for my reply, getting aflame.

I just gave a slight nod, “so can you help me with Rithvik? as to date him, he is so hot.” She was lost in her fantasy world, biting a lower lip by her teeth. I rolled my eyes, how could some girls turn so insane?

“I can’t, I know only Kunal.” I denied at the moment, I had no plan to mess with Rithvik. It was better to keep a distance from him.

“So what? Kunal is a best friend of Rithvik. You just introduce Kunal to me.” She gave me a puppy look, I gave a node. I was not able to deny seeing her innocent face, which made her ardent and she engulfed me in a hug. “You’re so sweet, wait I didn't give you my intro.” She broke the hug and finally I was able to breathe, she glimpsed at her crop top, as her stomach was peeping out of it. She tried to hide, it struck me that she was uncomfortable in such clothes, and also her plumpy figure was to blame.

“I am Drupa, and you?” She extended her hand for a handshake.

I shook my hand with hers, “Shanaya.”

“Nice name,” she giggled.

Soon the professor entered the class and we rise to greet him. During the lectures, I was immersed in it, noting things down which Professor conversed. Drupa time and again sight at me, to start a conversation. I just elude her gaze as I didn’t like fuss during class. As the pedagogue departed the class, we all stood to leave as we were done for the day. After attending consecutive classes, finally, we could retire back to the hostel.

As we were walking in the corridor for our way out, Drupa asked me.

“So how do you know Kunal? And what about Rithvik? Have you talk to him, did he reply? He usually, ignores girl.” She pouted, “but you’re so lucky. I saw the way, Kunal acquainted you with Rithvik. How much does, I wish I was in your place.” That dreamy tone back again, it was clear that she carries a torch for Rithvik.

“Don’t you know that Preeti is dating him?” I questioned, as it boggled me as the entire university was omniscient about it. Preeti boasted a lot about her relationship with Rithvik, it was unlikely that it might go unnoticed by anyone.

“Are you not from Mumbai?” It consternated her, “yes.” She shook her head in disbelief, “I heard it in the canteen." She bethinks about it, "you’re from Satara. The reason, you came to her talks. She is circulating the rumors for many years now, he holds no feelings for her. She is the one who strays around him.” Articulating it out, petulant her. Seemed like, I found one more criticizer of Preethi.

We were enveloped in silence for a while when she again questioned me up. “You had still not told me about how you both mingled up?” In an interrogating manner. I shared at her perplexed, who was she talking about? "You and Kunal," clearing out for me.

“He was a childhood friend of mine,” I was going to finish it off with it but someone intruded us in between.

“What do you mean by childhood friend?” We turned to look at the person, and it was Kunal standing along with Rithvik. He was holding some papers in his hand, “so I am not your friend as you mentioned.” He let the emphasis on the last word, making Drupa giggle while I smiled. Rithvik was least fascinated by the conversation, he was leering at me. I narrowed my eyes at him, which made him divert his gaze on the paper. As if just realized that he was staring at me, I ignore it concentrating on the conversation going on.

“You can’t blame Shanaya for it, as my question was how you both met.” Drupa highlighted the pointed at Kunal.

“Oh! I thought she was introducing me as her childhood friend," Kunal scratched his neck, giving a sheepish smile. "Not to forget the special mention of ‘was’.” As Kunal gestured a quotation through his two fingers as he spoke, we both girls burst into laughter. He was pissed as I referral him as my childhood friend, I found him cute.

“You’re a really cute guy,” Drupa said in between her laugh, glimpsing at Rithvik.

“I know,” Kunal raised his imaginary collar. “Wait! What’s your name, girl?” He questioned her out.

“I am Drupa, heard a lot about KAR gang. Rithvik I wanted to talk to you, from the moment you came to our school three years back. For an annual function, do you remember fatty? That's me.” Drupa’s eyes were fixed on Rithvik, shining with enthusiasm. She was hasty waiting for his response, grinning as she was having a conversation with him. Unfortunately, Rithvik showed the least interest in her. His eyes were fixed on the paper in his hand as if it was more interesting then conversation going on.

Kunal might have noticed it, he nudged Rithvik, making him look at Kunal. With a questioning gaze, “Rithvik, seems like she is interested to talk to you.” Kunal eyed at Drupa, Rithvik just rolled his eyes looking at her.

“But I don’t waste the time on people who don’t deserve my attention.” He gave a caustic remark, made Drupa feel offended. Her face turned dreary, she bent her head. How could someone be so barbarous? I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Yeah, as he had all set to die single.” Came an upbraided voice of Reema, who had walked towards us along with Ayan.

At that moment, I realized that each passerby's eyes were fixed on us. Just a conversation with the KAR gang and you were the talk of the town. They were all interested in our conversation, but at the same time didn’t stop listening to us that was strange! The fright that was engulfing, resisted them from their temptation to listen to us.

“Did I ever commented on your relationship with Ayaan? As you got only him, who find every next girl attractive than you.” Rithvik scorned at Reema.

“Rithvik! How can you talk something like this?” Reema scowled at Rithvik, those words by him offended Ayaan too. “They are listening,” she gritted her teeth, glancing everywhere. She turned embarrassed seeing novice eyes rivet on Ayaan. Ayaan just past a sad smile at Reema, who was giving her a guilty look.

“Is it?” Rithvik jeered at her, “don’t you think, you realized it much early.” He spoke sarcastically.

“Buddy, leave it. Let’s submit this to the professor.” Kunal whispered to Rithvik. Dragging Rithvik along with him who was infuriated by Reema’s word. Soon Ayan passed a smile and dragged Reema along with him. I stared at their retreating figure, the KAR gang gave bizarre vibes to me. The reason, I wanted to maintain a safe distance from them.

I took in a deep breath and glanced at Drupa, I knew she was hurt by Rithvik’s grating behavior. But to my surprise she passed me a smile, “so what about giving each other company till hostel room?” She offered me company and I smiled agreeing with her.

Throughout our journey from university to the hostel, it was Drupa who was talking while I was listening to her enduringly. She had provided me with enough information that I could write a biopic on her. It was beyond my thinking capacity, that how could a person share so personal stuff on our first meet. We hardly knew each other.

"So how is Mumbai? And it's people?" She inquired, getting curious to know my opinion on them.

"Nice," my answers were always up to the point. Unless I was interested in the topic. She was silent for a moment, and I glance at her to find the reason. She was peeping at the car which just passed, by us.

"You know, its Rithvik car." She was staring at the retreating figure of the car with clear admiration. After such an affront, she was still interested in him. She gazes at me, "you will label me mad. That after such abuse, I am still after him, but for me, it was not abused. It was our first encounter together. The way it is shown in movies," that made her land back in a fantasy world. That moment I knew, landing back to reality would cause her great harm.

We had decided or to be specific she had decided, that we would move together to the university, the next day. As the next day arose and I got ready in my white kurta, with floral embroidery. It had a golden fringe and I paired up the kurta with black jeans. I walked towards the small mirror, which the wardrobe consisted of, on its door. I looked at my reflection and combed my wavy hair into a ponytail. I glimpsed at the bag, laying on the bed beside. Took the cell, from the bed and rolled in down my jeans pocket. Took the knapsack on my shoulder, and walked out closing the door behind me.

As I walked out of the hostel entrance, Drupa had been waiting for me, outside the hostel. She was from Mumbai and used to come to university in local trains, the popular transport of the city. That was told by her, the previous day while narrating her biopic. “Good morning, how was yesterday?” She inquired, pulling me in a hug.

“Good morning, it was fine. What about you?” I asked as we walked towards the university. It was a narrow pathway, accompanied by trees around. That rustling heard as we walked over the path, the declivity path went directly to the main road. Drupa walked the path up, after walking a few miles away from the railway station. As it was a shortcut used by many, the reason the pathway was more crowded than the main road.

“After yesterday’s incident, I promised myself that I won’t wander around boys. I will keep myself occupied with books, studies.” Drupa arbitrated and I was delighted listening to her. She finally realized her fault, but I doubted it.

As her eyes strayed around when it came and halt on a guy, who had a built chest and was of similar height to that of Rithvik. He had fair skin, I saw Drupa drooling over him. I shook my head, nudged her through my shoulder. “What had you just promise yourself?” I raised a brow at her.

“Shanaya, I know that Rithvik rejected me on my face but I can’t give up. He is so handsome, Seems like I can make Rithvik furious on me by showing interest in him.” She was so delusional, “why don’t I have a chance?” With that, she left me, moving towards the guy.

Was she serious? I rolled my eyes, that girl could never change. Throughout the journey, she had been talking to him and kind of seemed that the guy was interested in her too. As they were walking in front of me, I could easily glance at them. Rithvik would envy her bond with the guy, which was such an absurd idea. With those thoughts in mind, we entered the university gate, still, Drupa was busy with the guy. I glanced at her once, she was peeping at Rithvik from the guy’s shoulder. Rithvik was standing there, along with his friends. He might have not even noticed her. I shook my head and moved inside, leaving her beside the guy. I walked at the canteen counter, my stomach was mourning in hunger, I was very choosy with my eating habits.

Hostel had nothing enchanting to eat, so I ended up the empty stomach to the university. But I needed to put some substance in my stomach so I could contemplate the upcoming classes. My eyes ambled down the list provided on the counter, written on a miniature board. I needed something which was of moderate rate and also of fine quality.

“Pav-bhaji,” I ordered to the person whose eyes were fixated on me from the moment I entered. He had put on an apron of faded orange. His earlock had turned grey, while the rest of the hair was covered with a thin fabric. He had a crease on his face, he seemed to be dead on his feet. I passed a smile, saddening over the fact that he was working, even when he seemed exhausted. He had been waiting for me to place the order, the moment I did. He walked to get it, I gazed at his retreating figure.

Alas! If I could help in any way, at that moment my cell ranged. It was my mother who had been calling, I received it. “Hello! Mom,” I grinned, she could shift my mood. I was missing her hand-made food, earlier I never appreciated it but when I was far off from it. I could realize the value of her food.

“Did you have your breakfast?” Came a moderate tone from the cell, I chortled, how much did she know me. The first question she raised was, whether I had my breakfast?

“Was in the canteen, have ordered pav-bhaji,” I informed her, preparing myself for the berating I was going to gain.

“What!” she screeched due to which, I had to move the phone away from my ear. So that my ear doesn’t get affected. “You still didn’t have your breakfast?” I heard susurration in the background, maybe dad had heard it.

I could hear his grumbles. “Caught what your dad spoke? If you can’t take breakfast on time, be kind enough to move back. Dad will be pleased to pick you up.” That was the dialogue, I had been receiving from my childhood. Whenever I used to not walk on their terms, they had to say those words. It was never going to change, they thought that I was a kid, who was going to come in their threat.

I heard footsteps and he was back with my order. “Thanks,” I thanked him and handed him the money which I had to dig off from my pocket. I held the plate in one hand, while the other was holding the cell. I took a seat in the canteen, as the canteen had vacant seats as at that particular time, the crowd was less in the canteen. The reason, I love landing in the canteen in the early morning.

“Are you listening to me?” She inquired, not getting any reply from me.

“Mom, I am having my breakfast. I Will call you later,” with that I hung the call. And got busy eating pav-bhaji, as having breakfast was more amiable than receiving chiding from mom. On her favorite topic, breakfast.

Done with my breakfast, I walked out of the canteen. Getting into my class. The discourse was soon going to start, the first one had been Painting. I took my seat, which was amid I hardly come into the docent's attention. Drupa was having a different class at the moment, as she had not opted for the subject.

I kept the knapsack on my lap and dislodged a book from my bag. Others had been fooling around, gossiping with each other. My concentration was on my book, I was so engrossed in the book which I was reading, in between blushing to myself. As it was a book under the romance genre. When I heard students were greeting someone. I darted my gaze from the book towards them, got up anticipating that it might be a lector. Confoundingly I found Rithvik, he was my senior and it was not unusual for him to wander around classes, Kunal was consorting him.

“You all might have a seat,” Rithvik instructed for which we obeyed.

“You people might have heard about the 'Drama Concours' which is held each year at our university. From that point in time, the contest is held, it is won by our university. Others try to deceive us but unfortunately, we win." Spoke Rithvik winking at us, which made Kunal to shook his head at him. He was so conceited about himself, I couldn't abide by such an attitude.

"So as the year has already started and we have to come up with a drama team, so anyone is interested?” Asked out Kunal, gazing around. I was peeping from the corner, as I didn’t want to participate in the rencounter.

“Hey, Samir! Come on, I know you are good at drama. You should take part,” Kunal was trying to embolden one of the boys from our class. While Rithvik was busy scribbling the paper in his hand, it seemed as if he was least interested, the difference both the friends hold.

At that moment, Ayan and Reema moved in. My heart was beating loudly, I was feeling aghast as if they were going to choose me.

“Done announcing?” Rithvik asked as he glanced at Ayan and Reema. They gave a slight nod, holding each other's hand. He gazed back at us, not one standing from the crowd.

“Seems like no one is interested,” Reema commented, peeping at us. “But we got a person from the other batch.” As Reema spoke it, my eyes darted back at her from Rithvik and I was moved, seeing the person standing.

“Drupa, shit!” I cursed my fate, I could see my near future.

“Man!” Rithvik was not at all pleased with the new member, he was shooting daggers at Ayan and Reema. That was not the case with Kunal, it gladdens him.

“Hey, that will be so much fun but what about cutie…” Kunal glanced at us and bit his tongue. “I mean Shanaya,” he scratched his head feeling embarrassed.

“Drupa told me she is in this class. And we rushed here, as I knew you would be pleased to hear it.” She teased him, which rather seemed feigned. There was some tension inbuilt between them.

As I was occupied with the thought, I forgot about their presence when I heard Ayan’s voice. “Hey, scared-kitten.” Ayan nudged to Reema as his eyes landed on me.

How come he recognized me out of so many? I could feel everyone's eyes on me. I knew this was going to happen. I pressed a sheepish smile at them. “Hey, you had been hiding from us. Why so?” Reema asked, getting puzzled. I witnessed a sudden shift in her behavior from phony to veritable one.

At that moment, the lecturer entered. “I am a sorry student,” he was ready with his apology when he noticed others present in the class, the KAR gang. Couldn’t he come a moment before, I cursed my fate.

“Sir, we are here for selecting the member for play,” Rithvik informed him, for which the professor nodded.

“Okay, you can carry on with it.” Professor was going to speak but Kunal chimed in.

“Sorry, to interrupt you sir but we are done with the selection. Can we take the members out, to discuss the matter?” He asked the professor for permission.

Professor moved in nodding his head, consenting. “Shanaya and Samir, come out,” Kunal ordered.